Display case construction



NOV- 18, 1941 y A. VANDERVELD 2,263,280.

yDISPLAY cAsE `cNsTl-mbTIoN l A Filed Aug. 16, 1940 ....MWHNHHHNHIHIHHN rhon and attractive in appearance.

Patented Nov. 148, 1941 I DISPLAY CASE CONSTRUCTION Anthony Vanderveld, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Grand Rapids Store Equipment Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application August 16, 1940, Serial No. 352,881

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a display case construction and more particularly to such devices constructed partly or entirely of metal.

The invention relates particularly to the end members of a display case and provides a construction which is economical, rigid and durable It also provides means for supporting devices on the ends such as shelving and other members.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of one end of a show case attached to the fragment of the back thereof.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the end ofthe case.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the end structure showing the means for supporting articles thereon.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end showing the supporting device attached thereto.

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View of the front edge of the structure showing a modification in which a wooden finishing strip is used, and

Fig. 6 is an elevationof a part of the front edge of the end structure showing the modification of Fig. 5.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts in all the figures of the drawing.

The show case which involves this invention is of the type having a top and bottom and vertical ends and back, the front being open or provided with movable closures as desired. I represents the back of the case which is shown as being made of wood but may be made of metal if desired. 2 is one of the end members and is made of sheet metal. Its top and bottom edges are attached to a conventional top and bottom (not shown) b-y suitable means and its rear vertical edge is attached to the back I as by screws 3.

The rear edge of the end member is stilfened by a vertical laterally extending flange 4 which at its outer edge may be bent at right angles to form the member 5 for additional stiifening. The flange 4 may be joined to the end member 2 by being formed integrally as shown in which case the metal of the back is bent forwardly upon itself forming the base 6 of the flange 4 which fiange is bent outwardlyfrom the integral base 6. 'I'he base 6 may be formed separately from the end panel and joined thereto as by welding.

The front edge of the end member is provided with a stiifening channel which, in the form of Fig. l, also constitutes an ornamental strip and may be shaped as desired for that purpose. In the form of Fig. l the channel constitutes a member 'I bent outwardly and laterally from the end l member and the member 8 bent rearwardly from the member 1, these parts being shaped as desired for ornamentation.

In the modification of Fig. 5 the front stiften-A ing channel constitutes a base member 9 welded to the end member somewhat rearwardly from the front edge thereof and an integrally formed lateral member IIJ and a forwardly bent member II, these parts with the forward edge portion of the end member constituting a channel to receive an ornamental strip of wood or other material I2 which is held in place by screws I3 passing through holes in the lateral member I0.

A vertical reinforcing channel I5 having outwardly iiared edges I6 is located between the front and rear edges of the end member and is attached to the end member by welding the flanges I6 thereto. This channel forms an additional stiffening means.

Intermediate the front and rear edges of the end member and at spaced intervals vertical grooves or narrow channels I1 are provided by stamping the body material of the end member outwardly. These narrow channels I1 form additional stiifening means and also constitute a part of the means for supporting shelving or other devices on the end member. The bases of the channel I'I are provided with vertically spaced openings I8 leaving connecting bars I9 between the openings I8.

Attaching brackets are provided having base portions 20 which are located against the inner face of the end member and have outwardly turned ears 2| which support shelves or other devices. The brackets have rearwardly turned hook portions 22 which extend through the openings I8 and hook behind the bars I9 at their upper portions, the lower portions resting upon the top edges of the bar I9 belowvthem.

This structure provides certain advantages over the conventional wooden end member for a display case wherein means are provided for supporting articles. The present invention provides a unitary structure combining both the end of the show case and the means for supporting articles such as shelves thereon which in wooden ends would have to be in the nature of supporting strips inserted into the wooden body necessitating additional labor and material. Fur.

thermore, the wooden end structure has a tendency to warp which is eliminated in the metal end.

With this device the channels I1 pressed outwardly from the flush inner surface of the metal end structure are practically invisible when viewed through the open front of the show case and are automatically made this way in the formation of the member. They take the place of the separate metal supporting strips inserted into the wooden end members as illustrated in Patent No. 2,208,234 to Kenneth C. Welch.

The invention is dened in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A vertical end for a display case made of sheet metal having means for supporting devices thereon comprising vertical channels formed integrally in the body material of said end member and having spaced openings of greater height than width at the bases of said channels, said openings being invisible when Viewed angularly from the front of the display case, and supporting brackets having hook portions extending into said channels and through said openings and hooked behind the material of said end member, said supporting brackets also having inwardly extending ears.

2. In a show case having an open front, a sheet metal end having Vertical spaced apart channels pressed outwardly from the inner side of the end member and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings through the bases of said channels, said openings being invisible when viewed angularly from the front of the show case, and supporting brackets located against the inner side lof the end and having hooks extending through said openings.

3. An end member for a show case unit including, a member of sheet metal, vertical channels in said member integral therewith and extending outwardly therefrom, and vertically spaced apart openings of greater height than width in the bases of said channels adapted to receive and hold shelf supporting elements therein, said openings being invisible when viewed angularly from the front of the unit.

ANTHONY VANDERVELD. 

